Philadelphia has a vibrant, exciting, international, award-winning but accessible restaurant scene. Having returned to Philly a year ago after 30 years in Manhattan, I’m having a blast re-exploring the food here in my home town. Let me bring you along for the ride. As I discover the places I love, I’ll add them here. Feel free to make suggestions of places for me to try.
Art Museum Area
- A Mano – This is where you go on that special occasion, or take out of town foodie friends. The menu is ever changing, always good, the pastas are handmade (a mano) in house, and the price fixe menu worth the reasonable price tag. BYOB.
- Bad Brother – This is what you get when a bunch of hipster foodies open a dive bar. Great food, great drinks, great atmosphere, and a great place to watch the game. Our favorite place for an amazing burger on a Friday night.
- Pizzaria Vetri – One of Marc Vetri’s original restaurants that he no longer owns but which remains amazing. Perfect place for lunch after visiting the Barnes Museum. Sit at the bar and chat up the cooks as they make your pizza, then watch it cook in the wood fired oven. Friendly, warm staff and great service.
- Black Taxi – This authentic Irish bar is where you want to be when the Phils or Eagles are playing. If its a warm summer night, sit at one of the sidewalk picnic tables and watch the game on the outdoor big screens. Good food – think burgers, bangers and mash, shephard’s pie, “wee bites” and great drinks. Quizo Wednesday nights. Occasional Irish music.
- Cantina Feliz / La Calaca Feliz– Delicious contemporary Mexican, great service, nice outdoor patio. We’re getting to be regulars…
- Musette – My favorite neighborhood coffee shop. Lovely staff, fabulous tartines and salads, baked goods from Metropolitan bakery (try the millet muffin) and of course, great coffee. Sadly, no WiFi.
Fishtown
- Kalaya – Award-winning Thai. Airy, bright, plant-filled, loud but warm atmosphere. Open kitchen. Chef-owner Nok Suntaranon is on premises most nights and will stop by your table to chat. It’s one of our favorite places to bring out of town guests.
- Laser Wolf – An Israeli grill, think of it as Zahav’s little sister, who in some ways outshines her older sib. The hummus and pita alone are worth the trip. The menu is simple – everyone shares a big Mezze platter, and you each order your own items from the grill. Don’t worry if you can’t finish it all – they have the most adorable little compartmentalized take away containers. Drinks are also great. If you’re in Brooklyn, they have an outpost there as well.
- Pizzaria Beddia – In 2019, Bon Appetit said Joe Beddia made the best pizza in America. That was when Pizzaria Beddia was a two man, 40 pie a day operation. The place is larger now and putting out many more pies a day, and also natural wines, small plates and foodie hoagies, but the pizza remains amazing. One of Philly’s top food destinations.
Center City
- Monk’s Cafe – With over 200 beers to choose from and 25 on tap at a given time, Monk’s is an internationally-renowned beer lover’s destination. Happily, the food is also good. Our pre- or post-orchestra concert go to restaurant, and a great place to take out-of-towners.
- Parc – Steven Starr’s French brasserie on Rittenhouse Square. Never fails. And OMG, the bread.
- Vedge – (Very) High-priced vegan fare in a historic brownstone. Inventive, delicious. My husband, the meat lover, was not impressed, but I went gaga over the Gold Bar Squash and Summer Corn “elotes”, Portabella Carpaccio and Piri-piri Grilled Tofu on Lentils. I even tried (unsuccessfully but not badly) to recreate the lentil dish myself. Thankfully, they have a cookbook.
Old City
- Zahav – Award-winning Israeli restaurant with a great cookbook. One of the toughest tables to score in Philly, well worth the wait.
- Las Bugambilias – Fabulous traditional Mexican food. A wide selection, including cerviche. But the best is their signature Molcajete. You MUST order it.
- Tallulah’s Garden – This place keeps getting better and better. Seasonal, local. The food is fabulous, service warm and attentive, atmosphere cozy yet bustling, with an outdoor patio for warm weather. Right on Washington Square. They also have a small market and cafe next door.
East Falls
- Fiorino – Tucked halfway up the hill on Indian Queen Lane (use your GPS to get there, it’s tricky), Franco Faggi’s wonderful Italian restaurant highlights the foods of Emilia-Romano in a warm, cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The food is fabulous. Only 30 seats, so reservations are a must. BYOB.
West Philly
- White Dog – Years before they called it farm-to-table, Judy Wicks was doing it here. One of my fave places for special friends and weekend brunch, and I always get the Kennet Square mushroom omelet. Fun decor featuring dogs, of course. It made me sad when they closed the gift shop to add more tables, but I understand.